Sweeper

ABSTRACT

A carpet sweeper has a housing which includes a frame-shaped lower portion of readily formable and deformable material and having an upper and a lower open side. An upper cover portion of less readily deformable shape-retaining material overlies the upper open side and is connected with the lower portion in shaperetaining relationship. Wheels are provided in the lower portion and project partly through the lower open side to support the sweeper for movement on the surface and one or more brush holders are similarly mounted. Journal means is carried by the lower portion for rotatably journalling the wheels and the brush holder or rollers.

United States Patent Leifheit et al. 1 May 30, 1972 [541 SWEEPER FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Invenlofsi Gunter ifh lt; Johannes Liebscher,both 1,013,085 12/1965 Great Britain ..l5/4l R of Nassau/Lahn, Germany[73] Assisnee; Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Nassau/Lahn, Germany[22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1970 [2 1] App]. No.: 88,765

Leifheit International Gunter Leifheit KG,

Attorney-Michael S. Striker [5 7] ABSTRACT Journal means is carried bythe lower portion for rotatably journalling the wheels and the brushholder or rollers.

27 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEnmao I972 3.665.540

sum 10F 3 INVENTOR PATENTEDMAY 30 I972 SHEET 20F 3 INVENTOR 524mm fillrue/r PATENTEDMAY 30 1972 SHEET 3 OF 3 mQE INVENTOR Gib/7'60 46 4 1:4J'cnfl Town/0r; 4, -m/f fk-b SWEEPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates generally to a sweeper, and more particularlyto a carpet sweeper.

It is known to provide carpet sweepers where in a housing which iscompletely or substantially open in downward direction, wheels and oneor more brush holders are mounted for rotation. Conventionally, thehousing is made of sheet steel which can be formedito the generallybox-shaped configuration desired for the housing. However, to permitsuch forming it is necessary to use high-quality and therefore expensivedeep-drawing materials, aside from the fact that the deepdrawingoperation itself is quite expensive. In addition to this,

there is the necessity to provide journals or the like for the brushholders, the wheels and other components. All of this makes themanufacture of the type of housing conventionally used in such carpetsweepers quite expensive.

To overcome the problem of expense, and also to make the housing,lighter, it has been proposed to make the housingof more readilyforrnable synthetic plastic material and to make it out of one piece. Inthis contest, however, it was found that the shape retention andresistance to deformation and damage which can be obtained with the useof such materials, is not sufficient to make the sweeper capable ofwithstanding the various stresses whichit may encounter. In particular,if any significant weight or load rests upon the sweeper, a deformationof the housing may occur -aided frequently due to circumstances havingto do with the storage of the sweeper and the ambient conditions itencounters, and also to the, ageing of the plasticand this may result ina clamping or jamming of the brush holders and/or the wheels or even ina complete separation of the rollers or wheels from their journals. The

same may also occur with reference to other components of the-sweeper sothat the latter becomes marginally usable or not at all usable. Afurther advantage of sweepers wherein the housing consists of highlysynthetic plastic materials, is the fact that particularly the fineparticles which are swept up into the housing by the brush roller orrollers, will not pass into the receptacle provided for this purpose intheinterior of the housing, but will instead adhere to other portions ofthe housing due to electrostatic charging thereof. This makes theremoval of dust and dirt more difficult, and also makes it difficult, ifnot impossible, to keep'the sweeper clean, particularly because thesefinedust particles have a tendency to settle in the upper region of thehousing where they are not readily accessible because access is blockedby the wheels, the rollers and other components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION tion to provide an improved sweeper in whichthe housing is simple, light and inexpensive to produce, and will notbepossessed of the disadvantages identified above.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparenthereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a sweeper,particularly a carpet sweeper, which briefly stated comprises a housingincluding a frame-shaped lower portion of readily deformable materialhaving an upper anda lower open side, and an upper portion ofshape-retaining The material of the frame-shaped lower portion ispreferably synthetic plastic material, and that of the shaperetainingupper portion is preferably sheet steel or the like. In this manner, itis. possible on the one hand to utilize the advantages -relative to theproduction and shaping of the frame portion and the journal meansprovided thereinwhich are obtained by the use of a readily formablematerial, while on the other hand, the advantages are obtained whichresult from the use of a shape-retaining material. Thus, the entirehousing can be shape-retaining and sufficiently strong, while it can getlighter than heretofore possible and can be more inexpensively produced.The frame-shaped lower portion of readily deformable material issupported and reinforced by the upper cover portion of shape-retainingmaterial in such a manner that even under significant forces acting uponthe housing, the latter will not become deformed to the extent thatwould adversely influence the functional operation of the device. Theupper cover portion can readily be made of inexpensive sheet metals,because it is of such shape that it can be produced without requiringthe use of high-quality and expensive deepdrawing metal sheets. Also, nodeep-drawing machinery is required for this purpose as was heretoforenecessary where the entire housing was made of sheet metal.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, journal elementsare provided which can be secured to the frameshaped lower portion andwhich provide journals for the various components. They can also be soconstructed that they provide for securing of the upper cover portion tothe lower portion, thus eliminating the need for separate securingcomponents for effecting such a connection. This in turn eliminates anyadditional manufacturing steps which would otherwise be necessaryparticularly on the upper cover portion. it further facilitates theassembly of the various components, making it simple and quick.

It is advantageous for the upper cover portion to be provided with anoutwardly projecting bead at its free edge which interengages with aninwardly projecting bead surrounding the free edge of the frame-shapedlower portion at the lower open side thereof. Portions of the journalelements, having limited deformability, engage the beads and retain theone on the -cover portion in engagement with the one on the lowerporshould be insertable into the confines of the frame-shaped lowerportion from below, that is from the lower open side of the lowerportion, and then be connectable therewith by the aforementioned snapaction. The configuration of the interengaging projections and recessesshould be such that when the journal elements are inserted in theaforementioned -manner, a connection can be readily established and thatit will provide for such reliable retention that undesired separation ofthe journal elements from the lower portion by movement of the journalelements in the direction towards the lower open side of the latter, isreliably precluded unless this is specifically desired. Journal elementscould, however,also be formed of one piece with parts of the lowerportion which naturally wouldfurther facilitate the assembly of thevarious components to the housing, and would reduce the expense in--volved in producing the various components and assembling them.,ln thiscase, if no portions of limited formability on the journal elements areprovided which could engage the beads on the lower portion and on theupper portion and retain them in engagement, it is advantageous if thebead on the upper portion engages with a groove provided in the regionof the upper open side of the frame-shaped lower portion, so that itwill be connected therewith in this manner. Here, again, the

'need for separate connecting components is avoided.

If the configuration of the bead and groove are such that the former canbe engaged in the latter with a snap action, an undesired separation ofthe two is reliably avoided. Of course, other possibilities exist also.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective viewillustrating a sweeper according to the present invention in oneembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line lI-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows, partly in section and partly in elevation, a view of asidewall portion of the lower portion of the housing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear view a journal element for connection with the lowerportion of the illustrated embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view, partly broken away, of a lower frame-shapedportion of the illustrated embodiment, with a journal element securedthereto;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line VIVI ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detailed view, on an enlarged scale,illustrating a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, and illustrating another embodimentof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing indetail, and firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 thereof, itwill be seen that in FIG 1 we have shown a sweeper which is identifiedin tote with reference numeral 10. In the illustrated embodiment, thesweeper is a carpet sweeper but it could be configurated and intendedfor other purposes, for instance as a table crumber or the like. It isalso pointed out that all such components of the illustrated sweeperwhich are not shown, may have an entirely conventional configuration andconstruction well known from the art. They are not considered part ofthe present invention.

According to the invention, the housing of the sweeper 10 is of twoparts, namely a frame-shaped lower portion 11 which is made of one pieceof a readily forrnable and deformable material, such as syntheticplastic. The other part is an upper cover portion 12 of ashape-retaining material such as sheet metal or the like. As shown inFIG. 1, the sweeper, according to the present invention, is furtherprovided with a handle 13 by means of which it can be moved withreference to a surface which it is to treat, that is to sweep. A portionof the handle 13 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and will be seen to beconnected to a bifurcated member 14 which is substantially of U-shapedconfiguration and the free ends of whose arms extend into openings 15provided on the narrow sides of the frame-shaped lower portion 1 1. Suchsweepers, if they are intended for carpet-sweeping purposes, are usuallyoperated in the manner that the operator stands still and simply movesthe sweeper back and forth over a portion of the surface to be treateduntil the desired extent of sweeping-up has been achieved. In so doing,the handle 13 and the member 14 are pivoted with reference to thehousing of the sweeper and in accordance with the invention, it isadvantageous to provide on the outer sides of the lower portion 11,radiating approximately in V- shaped configuration from the openings 15,depressions 16 into which the arms 17 of the member 14 may becomelocated if it is desired to utilize the sweeper in such a way that it issimply pushed and pulled and pivoting of the member 14 with reference tothe housing is not desired.

Of course, the distance between the arms 17 must then be such that theyengage the outer sides of the frame-shaped lower portion 11 with somespring pressure. As also shown in FIG. I, the arms 17 are slightly bentor angled in conformance with the angle between the depressions 16 andthe upper edge of the lower portion 11, so that when the arms 17 arelocated in one of the depressions 16 as shown in FIG. 1, they will abutagainst the upper edge of the portion 11.

In the embodiment of FIGS. l-6, the sweeper is provided with only asingle brush roller 18. It is tumable in rotation by means of wheels 19which cooperate with it to to turn it, and it turns in a sense oppositeto the direction of advancement of the sweeper. There are furtherprovided auxiliary brush rollers 20 whose main purpose is to prevent thedirt picked up by the main brush roller 18, from being flung outside ofthe housing, and which have the auxiliary purpose of loosening, forinstance the nap of the carpet or the like which is to be swept. Ofcourse, although only a single brush roller 18 is shown, more than onesuch brush roller can be provided.

As the drawing shows, particularly FIG. 2, the main brush roller 18 ismounted in a carrying element 22 whose arms are guided betweenvertically oriented guide portions 23 of journal members 24. The latterare separate from the lower frameshaped portion 11 and are secured totransversely spaced opposite walls of the latter on the inside thereof.

A pair of guide portions 25 is provided for connecting the journalelements 24 to the lower frame-shaped portion 11, as shown in FIG. 5,and they are essentially vertically oriented and, as FIG. 5 shows mostclearly, they are of angular or substantially L-shaped cross section,with their free arms facing towards one another. Intermediate thesepairs 25 of guide elements, the frame-shaped lower portion 11 is furtherprovided with a recess 27 which defines a substantially wedge-shapedopening which becomes wider in downward direction, that is in thedirection towards the lower open side of the housing, as is clearlyevident from FIG. 6. Eash of the journal elements 24 is provided on itsrear side, that is the one in assembled condition will face the insideof the respective wall of the lower portion 11, with correspondinglyapproximately vertically oriented pairs of guide portions 28 which areso configurated as to their spacing and cross section, that their freearm portions interengage with the pair 25 of guide elements, as shown inFIG. 5. Further, each of the journal elements 24 is providedintermediate its guide elements 28 with a projection 30 which is soconfigurated as to matingly engage with the associated recess 27. Theguide elements of each pair 25 are downwardly open, that is they are notconnected in downward direction, and similarly the guide elements ofeach pair 28 are upwardly open, meaning that they are not connected inupward direction, to make it possible to insert the journal elements 24from below through the lower open side of the lower portion 11 into thelatter to thereby establish coupling between the projection 30 and therecess 27, and between the guide elements 25 and the guide elements 28.

FIGS. 5 and 6 also show clearly that the walls of the lower portion 11are provided inwardly of the respective recess 27 with a hollow or void29 which in the illustrated embodiment is open in downward direction,that is towards the lower open side of the lower portion 11, and whichserves to make the material of these walls more readily deformable inthe region of the recesses 27. This facilitates snap-action insertion ofthe projections 30 into the recesses 27 It also makes it possible todisengage them by the utilization of suitable tools for deforming thewalls of the lower portion 1 l in a sense disengaging the projections 30from their recesses 27 On the other hand, the wedge-shaped matingconfiguration of the recesses 27 and projections 30 makes an undesiredseparation thereof impossible, particularly as the areas provided withthese recesses 27 and projections 30 are protected against undesireddeformation in a sense releasing this connection, by the fact that thejournal elements 24 overlie them.

FIG. 2 also shows that the cover portion 12 is provided with anoutwardly projecting edge or bead 31 which engages below an inwardlyprojecting edge or bead 32 at the upper open side of the lower portion1 1. In this embodiment, the respective en gaging surfaces of the beads31 and 32 are curved, with the surface of the bead 32 being convexlycurved and that of the bead 31 being concavely curved to essentially ina mating configuration. The bead 31 is pressed against and maintained incontact with the bead 32 by portions 33 on the journal elements 24which, when the latter are secured to the walls of the lower portion 11,engage under limited deformation the bead 31 from below and press thesame against the bead 32. The fact that by making the portions 33 oflimited deformability or flexibility, manufacturing tolerances can becompensated so that, without having to adhere to strict tolerances, afirm contact of the beads 31 and 32 -and thereby a firmer and reliableconnection of the portions 11 and 12 is always assured.

At opposite sides of the guide portions 23 for the element 22 carryingthe main brush roller 18, the journal elements 24 are further providedwith journals 35 for the wheels 19. The latter may, in known manner, bearranged on shafts which extend transversely to the elongation of thehousing, that is in axial parallelism with the axis of rotation of theroller 18. It is also known to mount on the shafts 36 dust or dirtcollecting receptacles 37 in such a manner that they are pivotable, withthe outer edges 38 thereof abutting against the underside of the lowerframe portion 11 in normal operating position, but with the receptacles37 being capable of pivoting about the axles 36 in such a manner aspermit access to the interior and removal of dust and dirt therefrom.

Of course, in order to assure that the receptacles 37 will always be intheir normal operating position, and will not move from this positionunless it is specifically desired that they do so, suitable springs orthe like may be used which urge them to the position illustrated in FIG.2. Such springs, which are not shown, may also be connected with theelement 22 and urge the latter -together with the brush roller 18-- toan uppermost position which is illustrated in FIG. 2.

The journals 35 are provided in such a manner as to be configurated inslot-like shape essentially horizontally, and their interior isaccessible through inlet openings 39 which converge and which have attheir narrowest portion a width smaller than the diameter of the axles36, it subsequently to diverge again as illustrated for instance in FIG.2. Thus, the axles 36 can be snapped through the inlet openings 39 intothe slot-like journals 35 and are thus retained against undesiredseparation. The portions 40 which bound the inlet openings 39 may beprovided on a resiliently deflectable arm 41 to permit a more readyinsertion of theaxles 36 past the narrowest portion of the inletopenings 39. The portions 40 also -together with the arm 41 close offone end of the respective journal openings 35. a

The element 22 carrying the brush roller 18 is strattled by an adjustingbracket 43 whose end portions are joumalled in known manner in arcuatelycurved journals 42 of the journal elements 24 (see FIG. 2) and which inpart abuts against a cam 44 of a setting member 45 which can be turnedfrom the exterior of the housing by means of a gripping portion 46. Themember 45 is mounted turnably in a recess provided for this purpose inthe upper cover portion 12 and overlies with its annular part 48 acorresponding portion of the material of the upper cover portion 12 inthe depression or recess 47 as illustrated in FIG. 2. A cylindrical partof the member 45 extends I through an aperture provided at the center ofthe depression 47 and is provided on the side facing the interior of thehousing with several offset projections 50 having differentconfigurations and engaging below the material of the upper coverportion 12 at the marginal portion of the aperture provided in thedepression 47, as illustrated, to prevent undesired withdrawal of themember 45. The marginal portion is of course provided with correspondingcutouts so that when the projections 50 are aligned with these cutouts,the member 45 can be inserted or removed from the depression 47. The cam44 prevents turning of the member 45 to a position in which it could bewithdrawn from the depression 47 by virtue of a locking portion whichengages with the bracket 43 when the member 45 has been inserted and hasbeen turned to a position where such engagement takes place. When themember 45 is turned, the cam acts upon the bracket 43 and thus displacesthe element 22 and the main brush roller 18 in a sense displacing thelatter downwardly to a desired extent, and in the illustratedembodiment, the springs acting upon the receptacles 37 at the same timeact upon the roller 18 in a sense tending to displace to its uppermostposition so that, when the member 45 is subsequently turned in adirection oppositely the one just discussed, the springs will urge thebrush roller 18 upwardly to the possible extent which. is controlled bythe position of the member 45 and the cam 44.

As shown in FIG. 2 also, the lower frame portion 11 is provided with anouter projecting bead 51 in the region of its lower part, constituting abumper to prevent damage to furniture and the like with which the devicemay come in contact. The journal elements 24 are provided with recesses52 which, when the journal elements 24 are in the position in which theyare connected with the lower frame portion 11, are aligned with theopenings 15 so that the inwardly bent portion of the bracket 14 can bereceived therein. This, also, serves to further assure proper retentionand connection of the journal elements 24 on or in the lower frameportion 1 1.

Because of the particular configuration of the various components of thesweeper according to the present invention, the assembly of thesecomponents is very simple. First, the element 45 is connected with theupper cover portion 12 and the latter is then inserted from below intothe lower frame portion 11. It is displaced upwardly therein until thebeads 31 and 32 engage. Now, the journal elements 24 are connected withthe walls of the lower frame portion 1 1 by interengagement of the guideelements 25 and 28, as well as the projections 30 in the recesses 27. Atthis point, of the assembly, the portions 33 abut from below against thebead 31 urging it into tight engagement with the bead 32. Now theelement 43 and subsequently the element 22 with the main brush roller 18are mounted and finally the wheels with their axles are connected withthe journal elements 24 with the receptacles 37 already mounted on theaxles 36, together with the wheels 19. Subsequently, it is onlynecessary for the end portions of the arms 17 of the bracket 14 to beinserted into the openings 15 with these end portions also projectinginto the corresponding apertures or recesses in the journal elements 24.

In FIG. 7, we have illustrated a further embodiment for connecting theupper cover portion with the lower frame portion. In FIG. 7, the lowerframe portion is identified with reference numeral 54 and provided inthe region of the upper open side with an inner radially outwardlyrecessed groove 55 which is upwardly limited by an inwardly projectingmarginal portion 56 and downwardly by a bead 59 which diverges inwardlyand upwardly in a substantially sawtooth-shaped cross section. The uppercover portion is identified with reference numeral 57 and again providedwith an outwardly projecting bead or flange 58, as in the precedingembodiment, and which is received in the groove 55. In this embodiment,it is very simple to make the journal elements of one piece with theinner sides of the lower frame portion 54, although this has not beenillustrated in order to not make the drawing too confusing.

FIG. 8 shows a view analogous to that of FIG. 7, but of anotherembodiment. Here, the lower frame portion is identified with referencenumeral 64 and has an upper bead encircling its upper opening or upperopen side, and provided with an upwardly open circumferential groove 63,with the upper cover portion 61 being provided with a downward flange 62which is received in frictional engagement in the groove 63. Also, thejournal elements 24 may be found directly on the inner sides of thelower frame portions 64. Of course, both in FIGS. 7 and 8, the journalelements may be provided separately and may be connected to therespective lower frame portion in the manner described with reference toFIGS. 1-6, or they may be partially embedded in the lower frame portionwhen it is desired to make them unitary therewith but not to actuallyform them thereon.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the connection between the upper portion 61and the lower portion 64 may also be somewhat different, for instancethere may be a snap action connection or the like with requisiterecesses and snap-projections being provided.

Obviously, the external configuration of the housing, that is of theupper and lower portions thereof, can differ from what has beenillustrated. At the same time, or alternatively, differentlyconfigurated brush rollers and wheels may be provided, or differentnumbers of such brush rollers and wheels, just as they may be located inpositions different from those illustrated. In the illustratedembodiment, only the main brush roller 18 is shown to be driven althoughmore than one brush roller may be provided and two or all of them may bedriven if desired. Similarly, the joumalling and height-adjustability ofthe main brush roller, and any or all brush rollers, may be madepossible in a different manner from what has been illustrated, suchmanner being already known in the art. Finally, the journal elements maybe connnected with the lower frame portion in a manner other than whathas been described by way of example herein.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions difi'ering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in asweeper, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended l. A sweeper, particularly a carpet sweeper,comprising a housing including a frame-shaped lower portion of readilydeformable material having an upper and a lower open side, and an uppercover portion of substantially rigid material overlying said upper openside and connected with said lower portion in shape-retainingrelationship therewith; wheel means mounted in said lower portion andprojecting in part through said lower open side so as to support saidhousing for movement on a surface; brush roller means also mounted insaid lower portion and in part projecting through said lower open sidethereof; journal means comprising a plurality of journal elementscarried by said lower portion for rotatably journalling said wheel meansand brush roller means in said housing; journal carriers provided withsaid journal elements; and cooperating coupling portions on said journalcarriers and on said lower portion for coupling the former to thelatter.

2. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower portion iscomposed of synthetic plastic material.

3. A sweeper as defined in claim 2, wherein said upper portion is madeof sheet metal.

4. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, said lower portion having a pair oftransversely spaced side wall portions each having an inwardly directedsurface; and wherein said coupling portions on said lower portion areprovided on said inwardly directed surfaces of said side wall portions.

5. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, said lower portions having an uppercircumferential edge bounding said open side and provided with aninwardly projecting bead, and said journal carriers comprising abutmentportions of limited deflectability downwardly adjacent said bead; andwherein said upper cover portion has a circumferential margin providedwith an outwardly projecting flange receivable between and retained bysaid bead and said abutment portions.

6. A sweeper as defined in claim 5, said bead and said flange havingrespective cooperating abutment surfaces, and wherein said abutmentsurfaces are of arcuate contour.

7. A sweeper as defined in claim 6, wherein said abutment surface ofsaid bead is concave, and wherein said abutment surface of said flangeis convex.

8. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling portions areunitary with said lower portion and with said journal carriers,respectively.

9. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, said coupling portions comprisinginterengaging undercut guide sections on said lower portion and saidjournal carriers, respectively, and being elongated in direction fromone towards the other of said open sides, and snap-action couplingshaving coupling sections on said lower portion and said journalcarriers, respectively, and engageable with a snap action uponinterengagement of said guide sections.

10. A sweeper as defined in claim 9, wherein said guide sections arerespectively of substantially L-shaped cross-section and each have anopen end facing said lower open side.

1 l. A sweeper as defined in claim 9, said coupling sections eachincluding a recess in an inner surface of said lower portion, and asnap-in projection receivable in said recess.

12. A sweeper as defined in claim 11, said recess having a depth whichincreases inwardly from said inner surface in direction towards saidlower open side, and said snap-in projection having a matingconfiguration.

13. A sweeper as defined in claim 11; and further comprising a void inthe material of said lower portion outwardly of said recess to therebyenhance flexibility of said material in the region of said recess.

14. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, said journal means comprising aplurality of journal portions unitary with said lower portion.

15. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, said upper cover portion having acircumferential margin, and said lower portion having a channelsurrounding said upper open side and adapted to receive said margin inlocking relationship.

16. A sweeper as defined in claim 15, said margin being an outwardlyprojecting flange; and wherein said lower portion has an innerperipheral surface provided with said channel.

17. A sweeper as defined in claim 15, said lower portion having anupwardly directed edge face bounding said upper open side and providedwith said channel, and wherein said margin of said upper cover portionprojects downwardly towards said edge face and is received in saidchannel.

18. A sweeper as defined in claim 17, said channel having a width andsaid margin having a thickness so correlated that said margin isfrictionally retained in said channel.

19. A sweeper as defined in claim 4, said journal carriers each having aconcealed side facing the respective inwardly directed surface, and aninner exposed side; wherein said journal elements are provided on saidinner exposed side unitary therewith; and wherein said journal carrierseach further have on the respective inner exposed side unitary therewithupright mounting portions for mounting a carrier for said brush rollermeans in positionally adjustable relationship.

20. A sweeper as defined in claim 19, said journal elements beingrespective depressions elongated substantially in horizontal directionand each having an inlet portion communicating with the respectivedepression transversely to the elongation thereof and configurated foradmitting insertion of an element to be journalled with a snap actioninto the respective depression.

21. A sweeper as defined in claim 20, said inlet portions beingpositioned so as to be accessible through said lower open side of saidlower portion.

22. A sweeper as defined in claim 20, said wheel means and said brushroller means each having an axle provided with end portions which are tobe journalled in the respective depressions and which have apredetermined diameter; and wherein said inlet portions have inletpassages which converge in direction inwardly towards the respectivedepression from a dimension larger than said predetennined diameter to adimension somewhat smaller than said predetermined diameter.

23. A sweeper as defined in claim 22, said inlet portions being boundedby lateral marginal sections at least one of which is elasticallydeflectable at least in the region of the smaller of said dimensions.

24. A sweeper as defined in claim 23, wherein said one marginal sectionis provided on an elastically deflectable stripshaped section of therespective journal element.

25. A sweeper as defined in claim 4, further comprising a substantiallyUishaped bifurcated carrier member for a handle embracing said uppercover portion and having legs extending downwardly at opposite lateralsides of said upper cover portion and said lower frame portion, saidlegs having free end sections extending inwardly towards one another;and aligned apertures provided in said side wall portions and therespectively associated journal members for pivotably receiving saidfree end sections 26. A sweeper as defined in claim 25, said side wallportions having respective outer surfaces facing away from theassociated inner surfaces and spaced from one another by a predetermineddistance; said legs being spaced from another by a distance slightlysmaller than said predetermined distance so that said legs abut therespective outer surfaces; and further comprising at least two notchesin each of said outer surfaces radiating outwardly from the respectiveaperture in mutually inclined directions for retainingly receiving therespective leg so as to position said carrier member at predeterminedangles to the vertical in dependence upon the accommodation of the legsin one or the other of said notches.

27. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, said lower frame portion having anouter side and being provided at least in the region of said lower openside with a circumferentially extending outwardly projecting beadconstituting a bumper.

1. A sweeper, particularly a carpet sweeper, comprising a housingincluding a frame-shaped lower portion of readily deformable materialhaving an upper and a lower open side, and an upper cover portion ofsubstantially rigid material overlying said upper open side andconnected with said lower portion in shape-retaining relationshiptherewith; wheel means mounted in said lower portion and projecting inpart through said lower open side so as to support said housing formovement on a surface; brush roller means also mounted in said lowerportion and in part projecting through said lower open side thereof;journal means comprising a plurality of journal elements carried by saidlower portion for rotatably journalling said wheel means and brushroller means in said housing; journal carriers provided with saidjournal elements; and cooperating coupling portions on said journalcarriers and on said lower portion for coupling the former to thelatter.
 2. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower portionis composed of synthetic plastic material.
 3. A sweeper as defined inclaim 2, wherein said upper portion is made of sheet metal.
 4. A sweeperas defined in claim 1, said lower portion having a pair of transverselyspaced side wall portions each having an inwardly directed surface; andwherein said coupling portions on said lower portion are provided onsaid inwardly directed surfaces of said side wall portions.
 5. A sweeperas defined in claim 1, said lower portions having an uppercircumferential edge bounding said open side and provided with aninwardly projecting bead, and said journal carriers comprising abutmentportions of limited deflectability downwardly adjacent said bead; andwherein said upper cover portion has a circumferential margin providedwith an outwardly projecting flange receivable between and retained bysaid bead and said abutment portions.
 6. A sweeper as defined in claim5, said bead and said flange having respective cooperating abutmentsurfaces, and wherein said abutment surfaces are of arcuate contour. 7.A sweeper as defined in claim 6, wherein said abutment surface of saidbead is concave, and wherein said abutment surface of said flange isconvex.
 8. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, wherein said couplingportions are unitary with said lower portion and with said journalcarriers, respectively.
 9. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, saidcoupling portions comprising interengaging undercut guide sections onsaid lower portion and said journal carriers, respectively, and beingelongated in direction from one towards the other of said open sides,and snap-action couplings having coupling sections on said lower portionand said journal carriers, respectively, and engageable with a snapaction upon interengagement of said guide sections.
 10. A sweeper asdefined in claim 9, wherein said guide sections are respectively ofsubstantially L-shaped cross-section and each have an open end facingsaid lower open side.
 11. A sweeper as defined in claim 9, said couplingsections each including a recess in an inner surface of said lowerportion, and a snap-in projection receivable in said recess.
 12. Asweeper as defined in claim 11, said recess having a depth whichincreases inwardly from said inner surface in direction towards Saidlower open side, and said snap-in projection having a matingconfiguration.
 13. A sweeper as defined in claim 11; and furthercomprising a void in the material of said lower portion outwardly ofsaid recess to thereby enhance flexibility of said material in theregion of said recess.
 14. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, said journalmeans comprising a plurality of journal portions unitary with said lowerportion.
 15. A sweeper as defined in claim 1, said upper cover portionhaving a circumferential margin, and said lower portion having a channelsurrounding said upper open side and adapted to receive said margin inlocking relationship.
 16. A sweeper as defined in claim 15, said marginbeing an outwardly projecting flange; and wherein said lower portion hasan inner peripheral surface provided with said channel.
 17. A sweeper asdefined in claim 15, said lower portion having an upwardly directed edgeface bounding said upper open side and provided with said channel, andwherein said margin of said upper cover portion projects downwardlytowards said edge face and is received in said channel.
 18. A sweeper asdefined in claim 17, said channel having a width and said margin havinga thickness so correlated that said margin is frictionally retained insaid channel.
 19. A sweeper as defined in claim 4, said journal carrierseach having a concealed side facing the respective inwardly directedsurface, and an inner exposed side; wherein said journal elements areprovided on said inner exposed side unitary therewith; and wherein saidjournal carriers each further have on the respective inner exposed sideunitary therewith upright mounting portions for mounting a carrier forsaid brush roller means in positionally adjustable relationship.
 20. Asweeper as defined in claim 19, said journal elements being respectivedepressions elongated substantially in horizontal direction and eachhaving an inlet portion communicating with the respective depressiontransversely to the elongation thereof and configurated for admittinginsertion of an element to be journalled with a snap action into therespective depression.
 21. A sweeper as defined in claim 20, said inletportions being positioned so as to be accessible through said lower openside of said lower portion.
 22. A sweeper as defined in claim 20, saidwheel means and said brush roller means each having an axle providedwith end portions which are to be journalled in the respectivedepressions and which have a predetermined diameter; and wherein saidinlet portions have inlet passages which converge in direction inwardlytowards the respective depression from a dimension larger than saidpredetermined diameter to a dimension somewhat smaller than saidpredetermined diameter.
 23. A sweeper as defined in claim 22, said inletportions being bounded by lateral marginal sections at least one ofwhich is elastically deflectable at least in the region of the smallerof said dimensions.
 24. A sweeper as defined in claim 23, wherein saidone marginal section is provided on an elastically deflectablestrip-shaped section of the respective journal element.
 25. A sweeper asdefined in claim 4, further comprising a substantially U-shapedbifurcated carrier member for a handle embracing said upper coverportion and having legs extending downwardly at opposite lateral sidesof said upper cover portion and said lower frame portion, said legshaving free end sections extending inwardly towards one another; andaligned apertures provided in said side wall portions and therespectively associated journal members for pivotably receiving saidfree end sections.
 26. A sweeper as defined in claim 25, said side wallportions having respective outer surfaces facing away from theassociated inner surfaces and spaced from one another by a predetermineddistance; said legs being spaced from another by a distance slightlysmaller than said predetermined distance so that said legs abut therEspective outer surfaces; and further comprising at least two notchesin each of said outer surfaces radiating outwardly from the respectiveaperture in mutually inclined directions for retainingly receiving therespective leg so as to position said carrier member at predeterminedangles to the vertical in dependence upon the accommodation of the legsin one or the other of said notches.
 27. A sweeper as defined in claim1, said lower frame portion having an outer side and being provided atleast in the region of said lower open side with a circumferentiallyextending outwardly projecting bead constituting a bumper.